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What Is Sculptra Used for?

Have people asked you if you’re sick because you’ve lost so much volume in your cheeks? Do you feel like your hands make you look older than you are due to very visible veins and bones? If so, you may benefit significantly from Sculptra at Plastic Surgery Specialists of South Florida in Hollywood, FL.

What Is Sculptra Used for?

Sculptra is used to volumize regions of the body that have experienced moderate-to-severe collagen or fat loss. Due to its active ingredient PLLA (poly-L -lactic acid), this injectable filler quickly and effectively volumizes your skin.

Also, this filler encourages your skin to ramp up its production of collagen, the most abundant protein in your body. This supportive protein is one of the key components in your skin keeping it healthy, hydrated, tight, smooth, and plump.

How Soon Will I See the Results of My Treatment?

As soon as this effective dermal filler is administered, you will start to see the results of this treatment. Nevertheless, you need to give your skin time to produce extra supportive proteins in response to the PLLA injections before the final results of the treatment can be enjoyed. This may take anywhere from one to six months depending on hereditary factors, lifestyle choices, and age. Nonetheless, most people need to wait no more than three months.

If you are anxious for your final results to be realized, then you need to ensure your skin can create collagen as quickly as possible. For example, you should encourage hastened collagen production by massaging the treatment areas. Also, staying hydrated will ensure that your final results come as quickly as possible. Also, you can ensure that your final results become apparent as quickly as possible by getting all of the nutrients you need every day.

A Helpful Tip

Your primary focus should be your nutrition if you want to see the final results of your treatment as quickly as possible. Specifically, it is of the utmost importance that you eat enough protein every day and consume at least your RDA of vitamin C. Your skin won’t have enough amino acids to produce enough collagen to provide you with your ideal results if you don’t consume enough bioavailable protein.

However, even if you get enough amino acids in your diet, your skin won’t be able to convert those essential building blocks of protein into collagen if you don’t get enough vitamin C in your diet. Additionally, you should eat as little processed food as possible while your skin is working overtime to produce collagen. Processed foods damage the collagen already present in your skin and slows your skin’s ability to produce more of the supportive protein.

What Foods Should I Avoid?

Among the processed foods you should minimize your consumption of are:

  • Candy
  • Extremely processed bread
  • Skin or low-fat dairy products
  • Protein shakes
  • Canned soups
  • Refined grains, including cereal and pasta
  • Breakfast bars
  • Protein bars
  • Frozen foods

 

How Many Treatment Sessions Are Required for Ideal Results?

To achieve the aesthetic you desire, you may need anywhere from one to six injection sessions. That said, the average person only needs two to three injection sessions per targeted treatment area.

You should only expect to need five to six sessions if you are in your 50s or 60s and looking to restore a healthy, young appearance. The only exception to this is that younger people may require five or six injection sessions if the cheeks have lost an extreme amount of fat because of a severe illness.

How Long the Treatment Will Take

During your initial consultation, we will assess the extent of your cosmetic problems and talk about your aesthetic vision thoroughly. Once we have all of this information, we can advise you on how many injection sessions will probably be required to get your desired look.

If you only have mild concerns, we can quickly and effectively address several areas of concern during the same session. However, the more severe your cosmetic concerns are, the more syringes we will need to administer per treatment area. Therefore, you may need to come in for a couple of sessions to address all of your problem areas if your concerns are severe in nature.

What Can’t This Injectable Do?

While this injectable is FDA-approved to treat volume loss caused by a lack of fat or collagen, it is not FDA-approved to treat all cases of volume loss. For example, this treatment cannot be used to enhance the appearance of the upper eyelids. Also, it may not be used to non-invasively augment the lips.

How Should I Prepare for My Treatment Session?

Due to the non-invasive nature of these injections, you don’t have to do too much to prepare for your injection session. For example, you won’t have to fast for 12 hours before your injections are administered because there is no general anesthesia required to keep you comfortable during your session. However, there are a few things you must do to ensure you have the best possible treatment experience.

For instance, it is crucial that you are hydrated and well-nourished when you come in for your appointment. If you are malnourished and dehydrated, your skin won’t be able to produce as much collagen as it could under optimal conditions. We strongly suggest drinking at least 16 ounces of water and eating a small, protein-packed meal or nutrient-dense snack within two hours of your scheduled appointment. Also, don’t take blood-thinners.

What Can I Expect During My Recovery Process?

Just like there’s not a lot you have to do to prepare for this treatment, there’s not a lot you have to do during the recovery period. You don’t have to worry about downtime, so you are free to go back to work or school. Nevertheless, you should be aware that you shouldn’t apply any cosmetics to the areas targeted for treatment within the first three hours following your injections.

If you get a headache or feel any other sort of discomfort during the first 72 hours after your injections, you may take over-the-counter analgesics that do not thin your blood. Also, you may want to remember the rule of five once your session is complete. Remember, massaging the treatment area will hasten your final results. It is advisable to massage the treatment area five times per day for five minutes at a time during the first five days after your session.

How Long Will My Results Last?

You can expect your ideal results to remain for five years if you protect your skin from the sun.

Am I a Good Fit for Sculptra Injections?

People who qualify for this treatment are in fairly good health and worried about collagen or fat loss that is moderate or severe in nature. Nonetheless, this injectable anti-aging treatment is not appropriate for everyone. For example, irrespective of your health, you will not qualify for these injections if you are trying to become pregnant, currently pregnant, or currently nursing.

To verify that you are healthy enough to qualify for these injections, we will review your health history thoroughly and talk to you about your current health. Also, we will assess your areas of concern to verify that your concerns are caused by fat or volume loss. Note, you don’t have to be in extremely good health to qualify for these injections. At first, this injectable was used to reverse the visible effects of fat loss in people who had HIV.

What Exactly Do You Look for in a Candidate?

To briefly summarize, we are looking for people who:

  • Have marionette lines
  • Have sagging cheek skin
  • Have chest wrinkles
  • Have bony hands
  • Have venous hands
  • Want results that last for half of a decade
  • Want to look five to 15 years their junior
  • Don’t qualify for surgery
  • Don’t want surgery
  • Have crow’s feet
  • Have very pronounced cheekbones

 

Discover Today if This Treatment Is Right for You

If you have cosmetic concerns caused by a loss of fat or collagen, Sculptra may be the perfect anti-aging treatment for you. This incredibly versatile injectable can be administered into many areas with loose, sagging skin and extensive volume loss. Whether you’re looking to rejuvenate your hands, chest, lower face, midface, or upper face, this treatment can help. Schedule an appointment with us today at Plastic Surgery Specialists of South Florida in Hollywood, FL to learn more about this safe, convenient, highly effective injectable.

Yoav Barnavon, MD, FACS

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